Post for a bridge railing



May 11, 1965 c. w. SYAK ETAL POST FOR A BRIDGE RAILING Filed March 18, 1963 FIG. 5

INVENTORS CHARLES W. SYAK 8 NICK A. DIMARGIO ATTQRNEY United States Patent Ofl lice 3,182,762 Patented May 11, 1965 3,182,762 POST FOR A BRIDGE RAILING Charles W. Syak, Girard, and Nick A. Di Margie, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to Trumbull Development Corporation, Girard, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,720 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-23) This invention relates to a post for supporting a tubular bridge railing and the like. I It is common practice in completing highway bridges to provide a safety railing along the respective sides of the bridge and which railing, is usually ofl set vertically toward the line of traffic and with respect to the edge of the bridge so as to provide a massive structure which will deflect a motor vehicle therefrom and provide a readily visible edge structure to enable the vehicle operator to determine just where the edge of the bridge is. In the past, the edges of the vehicle bridges were usually defined by structural portions of the bridges themselves and it was found that the massive solid structures caused the average vehicle operator to pull inwardly away therefrom thereby reducing the use efficiency of the full width of the bridge.

In recent years, the general practice has been to form a vehicle bridge with the supporting structure completely therebeneath and to define the edges thereof with open relatively small structures such as a tubular railing supported on appropriately spaced supports. Such structures lend an appearance of security to the vehicle operator; they do not obstruct vision and the vehicle operator does not object to driving closely alongside thereby utilizing the entire effective width of the bridge. Such structures must be relativelymaintenance-free and should be structurally strong so as to be capable of preventing a vehicle from running over theedge of the bridge.

The present invention relates to a post for use in such railing constructions and which post is an extremely strong and durable steel structure carrying the tubular railing and yet providing an attractive light-weight component. i

The principal object of the invention relates to a post for a bridge railing which may be economically formed,

' easily installed and which will support tubular railings and the like. 7 t z A further object of the invention is the provision of a post for a bridge railing which may be formed of steel stampings and thereby formed at a very low cost.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a post for a bridge railing which provides a desirable offset of the railings and which may be advantageously and easily illuminated from the interior thereof so as to increase its visibility and effectiveness. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a post for a bridge railing which may include a sealing strip of plastic material acting to improve the appearance of the post and/or provide a translucent enclosure for lighting means located within the post structure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the descripiton proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it'being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute; departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: t

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pair of posts for bridge railings formed in accordance with the invention illustrating tubular railings supported thereby.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of one of the posts shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of one of the posts shown in FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2. 1

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

' FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a section similar to that of FIGURE 6 illustrating the. application of a modified plastic sealing strip to the post construction.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that a pair of posts for bridge railings are shown in perspective elevation and that they include horizontally disposed apertured base portions 10 by which the post may be bolted or otherwise secured to a bridge (not shown). The posts each comprise a pair of oppositely disposed flanged metal stampings 11 and 12 which are secured to the bases 10, 10 as by welding and which flanged metal stampings 11 and 12 are horizontally spaced and secured to one another in such horizontally spaced relation by tubular spacers therebetween as hereinafter described. The flanged metal stampings each comprise a flat generally rectangular body member having a right angle continuously extending flange on its longitudinal edges and one end. The tubular spacers and sleeves define horizontally aligned openings through which tubular rails 13 and 14 respectively are positioned. It will be understood that the longitudinal spacing of the posts along the rails 13 and 14 may be varied in accordance with the material of the railings 13 and 14 and the desired appearance and support required, and it will further occur to those skilled in the art that when the tubular rails 13 and 14 comprise sections of welded steel pipe the resulting bridge railing is extremely durable while at the same time light in weight and of plea-sing appearance. Alternately, aluminum tubing may be employed in forming the railings 13 and 14 and it will further be seen that the tubular spacers and sleeves which are integral parts of the posts for-m structures which may be employed as couplings with respect to the end to end sections of the railings 13' and 14.

By referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the metal stampings 11 and 12 are provided with oppositely disposed inturned flanges 15 and 16 respectively and that the flanges extend continuously around the periphery of the stampings 1-1 and .12 except at their lower ends which are welded as at 17 to the base 10. The spacers heretofore referred to which hold the metal stampings 11 and 12 in spaced relation preferably comprise sections 18 and 19 of tubular material which may be of different diameters as shown and which spacer sections 18 and 19 are cut to a length corresponding to the distance between the inner faces of the metal stampings 11 and 12 as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings. The spacers 18 and 19 may be welded to the metal stampings 1 1 and 12 or they may be simply held in position by the tubular sleeves 20 and 21 which are positioned through oppositely disposed apertures in the metal stam'pings 1-1 and 12 and which apertures conform in size and shape with the inner size and shape of the spacers 18 and 19. The outermost ends of the spacers 20 and 21 are then turned back upon themselves to form rolled ends 22 and 23 and 24 and 25 respectively on the sleeves 20 and 21 respectively. If desired, threaded apertures may be provided in the spacers 18 and 19 and sleeves 20 and 21 respectively so that fasteners may be positioned therethrough and engaged against the tubular rails 13 and 14 which will then secure them in position.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that an electrical outlet may be positioned between the metal sta-m pings 1 1 and 12 either above or below the lower rail 13 and an electric light bulb installed so that the posts become light fixtures with the. light therefromdirected outwardly from between the spaced metal stampings 11' and 12 in a very desirable manner. I

A further modification which may be desirable is illus trated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings and wherein a plastic sealing strip 26 having oppositely disposed longitudinally extending slots in its opposite-edges is positioned between the inturned flanges 15 and 16 o f'the metal stampings 11 and 12 of the post so as to seal or close the area therebetween; the plastic may be transparent if the posts are usedas lighting fixtures asaforesaid,

A further modification may comprise flanging the metal stampings 11 and 12 at their lower ends so that such flanges are disposed at right angles to the stampings and overlie, the base portion v to which they are secured.

It will thus be seen that a simple and efficient post for a bridge railing has been disclosed which may be formed in the two rail style illustnated' herein, or if desired, one of the rails may be eliminated and the height of the post reduced and a single rail post thus formed. The post when formed of steel stampings may be easily and inexpensively galvanized or otherwise protected against rust and the resulting structure provides a post of unusual strength and rigidity cap-able of supporting the railings in a desirable manner, and having thus described our invention, what we claim is: t

1-. A post for a bridge railing comprising a base plate and a .pair of oppositely disposed flanged metal stamp-ings positioned upright thereon and secured thereto, each of said metal st-ampin-gs comprising a flat body member having a right angular flange on three sides thereof, said metal stampings having oppositely disposed apertures therethrough and circular spacers disposed between and secured to said metal stampings and holding said metal stampings in fixedrelation .to one another, plastic sealing strips having longitudinal flange engaging formations on their opposite edges positioned between said flanged metal stampings;

2. A post for a bridge railing and comprising a horizontal base plate, a pair of rectangular body members posi-- tioncd-o-n said base plate in side-byaside verticalrelation and. spaced. horizontally with respect to one another and secured to said base plate. at their lower ends, a continuous right angle flange formed on the side and top edges of.

said rectangular body members, horizon-tally aligned apertures in said rectangular body members, tubular spacers positioned bet-ween and in engagement with said rectangular body members, in alignment with said apertures and tubular sleeves of a diameter snugly fitting within said tubular spacers positioned through said apertures and tubular spacers, the ends of said sleeves being offset and engaged. in clamping relation against the outer opposite surfaces of said rectangular body members.

3. The post set forth in claim- 2 and wherein the top edges of said rectangular body members including said flanges are curved.

4. A post for a bridge railing and comprising a horizontal base plate, a pair of rectangular body members positioned on said base plate in side-b-y-side vertical relation and spacedhorizontally with respect to one another and secured to said'base plate at their lower ends, a continuous right angle flange formed on the side and top edges of said rectangular body members, horizontally aligned apertures in said rectangular body members, tubular spacers positioned between and in engagement with said rectangular body members in alignment with said apertures and tubular sleeves ofa diameter snugly fitting within said tubular spacers positioned through said apertunes and tubular spacers, the ends of said sleeves being offset and engaged'in clamping relation'a'gainst' the outer opposite surfaces of said rectangular body members, a strip of shape conforming plastic material positioned be tween the spaced'edges of said flanges of said rectangular body members in sealing relation thereto.

References Cited'bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,231 2/91 Cleaveland 25 6--65 501,950 7/93 Leo 182-228 1,024,858 4/12 Kissinger et al. 25 6-59 1 ,5 82,7 94 4/26 Smith et al 182-228 2,23 8-, 348 4/ 41 Shelton 25 6-21 2,772,6 47 11/5 6 Lanmon 2402 2,774,325 l12/56 Budde 3962 3,061,896 11/ 62 Wahlfeld 2069 FOREIGN PATENTS 621,240 4/ 49 Great Britain.

HARRISON R; MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A POST FOR A BRIDGE RAILING COMPRISING A BASE PLATE AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FLANGED METAL STAMPINGS POSITIONED UPRIGHT THEREON AND SECURED THERETO, EACH OF SAID METAL STAMPINGS COMPRISING A FLAT BODY MEMBER HAVING A RIGHT ANGULAR FLANGE ON THREE SIDES THEREOF, SAID METAL STAMPINGS HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED APERTURES THERETHROUGH AND CIRCULAR SPACERS DISPOSED BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID METAL STAMPINGS AND HOLDING SAID METAL STAMPINGS IN FIXED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, PLASTIC SEALING STRIPS HAVING LONGITUDINAL FLANGE ENGAGING FORMATIONS ON THEIR OPPOSITE EDGES POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID FLANGED METAL STAMPINGS. 